White Rose
"Many...do not see clearly how they can practice an effective opposition... We want to try to show them that everyone is in a position to contribute to the overthrow of this system...it can be done only by the cooperation of many convinced, energetic people - people who are agreed as to the means they must use to attain their goal. We have no great number of choices as to these means. The only one available is passive resistance." -Third leaflet of the White Rose Source: www.holocaustresearchproject.org |
resistance
"It was not a political organization you could join. It was a group of personal friends with shared interests."
-George Wittenstein, member of the White Rose Source: Hans and Sophie Scholl |
"The group was very fun-loving...We had meetings where we discussed our ideas, read our own writings to each other."
-George Wittenstein, member of the White Rose Source: Hans and Sophie Scholl |
The White Rose was a resistance movement based in Munich, Germany. They were medical students, studying at the University of Munich, who resisted through posting thousands of leaflets expressing their opinions on the war and how it was wrong.
"So many think what we said and wrote. Only they dare not to speak it." -Sophie Scholl, member of the White Rose Source: Die WeiBe Rose |
Podcast interview, by William and Lorrie Smithers, with George Wittenstein, a member of the White Rose
Source: www.sb-justbetweenus.com |
"Perhaps 50 people in total were involved...11 executed in total between Munich and Hamburg. There were some in Saarbrucken as well...The networks helped feed them money to purchase paper, stamps; get a mimeograph machine to them for cranking out leaflets; finding a secure place to do that work; etc."
-Jud Newborn, author of Shattering the German Night
Source: Dr. Newborn Interview
-Jud Newborn, author of Shattering the German Night
Source: Dr. Newborn Interview
results
On February 18, 1943, Hans and Sophie Scholl brought suitcases full of leaflets to the University planning to post them on campus. The bell rang and Sophie still had leaflets, so she dumped them over a balcony to the students below. A pro-Nazi janitor named Jakob Schmidt, caught the Scholls and reported them to the Gestapo. They were immediately arrested. The Gestapo questioned and tortured them for two days, hoping to get the names of their accomplices. When the Gestapo searched Hans' apartment, they found evidence of other members and shortly tracked down and arrested Alex, Christoph, Willi, George, professor Huber, and other suspects. The Scholls and Christoph appeared before the People's Court and were sentenced to execution. Alex, Willi, and professor Huber would also be executed.
"Long live freedom!"
-Hans Scholl, member of the White Rose
Source: Hitler Youth
-Hans Scholl, member of the White Rose
Source: Hitler Youth